I am open to suggestions for the food budget, I don't need help with what to buy but rather what to cook. I am typically exhausted at the end of the work day and so we eat a lot of convenience food. The only quick from scratch meal I know how to cook is stir fry and coconut curry. Again, in a rural area I'm stuck with big chain grocery stores, but I make use of a close by Aldi's once a month for shelf stable stuff.

I am open to suggestions, but I've got to learn how to cook (or rather, what to cook) to make changes....what do you eat on week nights?

I've found it's about taking what you like to eat, and then finding recipes that reheat well if you make a large portion. Such as for pasta, I've found orzo reheats well and stays moist if it's got some kind of dressing (such as olive oil and lemon).

Another thing is weeknight meals don't have to be a traditional "dinner" - you could have a "sandwich" night (or soup and sandwich night) or a salad night. Maybe reserve 1 weeknight meal for carryout/restaurant meals. Right there 3 nights are done.

Last night my dinner was a mixed salad (spring greens and baby spinach mix, with baby carrots, calamata olives, and avocado with homemade balsamic vinegrette dressing) with a couple pan fried smelt that I lighted battered with flour/salt/pepper.